Zebulon, North Carolina
Zebulon is a town of 8,711 people in Johnston County, North Carolina, founded in 1906.
Why visit Zebulon
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 31 places to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Bennett Bunn Plantation and George and Neva Barbee House.
Weather in Zebulon
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Zebulon
Zebulon is the easternmost town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,903 at the 2020 census. Zebulon is part of the Research Triangle metropolitan region. In May 2022, Zebulon was ranked North Carolina's second fastest growing town, only behind neighboring Wendell.
From the Wikipedia article Zebulon, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks4
Bennett Bunn Plantation
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Human settlement in North Carolina, United States of America
George and Neva Barbee House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in North Carolina, United States
Wakelon School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic school building in North Carolina, United States
Wendell Boulevard Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
National historic district located at Wendell, North Carolina, a town in eastern Wake County
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes31
Smithfield's Chicken N' Bar-B-Q
Restaurant · Regional · 0.4 mi
121 Wakelon Street, Zebulon
Su-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 10:00-23:00
Waffle House
Diner · American · 0.9 mi
102 Pearces Road, Zebulon
24/7
Las Rositas
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.5 mi
207 North Arendell Avenue, Zebulon
Plaza del Mariachi
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 mi
411 West Gannon Avenue, Zebulon
Armando's Pizza
Restaurant · 0.6 mi
103 North Arendell Avenue, Zebulon
Las Delicias Panaderia Y Tortilleria
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
416 West Gannon Avenue
Mclean’s Ole Time Cafe
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
418 West Gannon Avenue, Zebulon
19 more on the map.
History
In 1906, the Raleigh and Pamlico Sound Railroad Company decided to bring the railroad through the Whitley and Horton family farms in eastern Wake County. Edgar B. Barbee and Falconer B. Arendell organized the Zebulon Company for development that same year. The company received its charter on February 15, 1906. Shortly thereafter, they began to divide up their 49 acres (20 ha) into lots, blocks, streets and avenues. On February 16, 1907, the town was officially recognized as Zebulon, North Carolina. The town was named after Zebulon Baird Vance, the Governor of North Carolina during the American Civil War. The first election was held in May 1907, and the first elected mayor was Thomas J. Horton.
In 1997 Zebulon annexed the neighboring community of Wakefield, increasing the total area inside the corporate limits to 2,115 acres (8.56 km2) and the population to 3,908. The population had grown to 6,903 by 2020.
There are four properties in Zebulon listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Wakelon School, Bennett Bunn Plantation, the George and Neva Barbee House, and the Zebulon Historic District.
From the History section of Zebulon, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship12
Church of the Cross
Church · Nondenominational · 2.0 mi
1700 West Gannon Avenue, Zebulon
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 1.9 mi
1169 Water Plant Road, Zebulon
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 0.8 mi
300 Jones Street, Zebulon
Beaver's Chapel United Church of Christ
Church · United Church Of Christ · 0.8 mi
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare6
MyCare 365 Primary & Urgent Care, Wake Med
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.8 mi
1260 North Arendell Avenue, Zebulon
Duke Primary Care Wakelon Internal Medicine
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
301 Hospital Road, Zebulon
Zebulon Healthcare Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
1303 Water Plant Road, Zebulon
Map of Zebulon
80 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Johnston County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Triangle North Executive Airport (LFN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Wendell 5 mi southwest, about 8 min by car
- Rolesville 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Knightdale 11 mi west, about 17 min by car
- Archer Lodge 11 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Lake Royale 11 mi northeast, about 18 min by car
- Wake Forest 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Clayton 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Spring Hope 14 mi northeast, about 23 min by car
- Raleigh 18 mi west, about 29 min by car
- Garner 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Zebulon, North Carolina 01, Indy beetle, CC0
- Arendell Avenue, Looking South. Zebulon N.C, Johnson524, Public domain
- Town of Zebulon Bench, Johnson524, CC0
- Entire Whitley Furniture Galleries complex, Zebulon NC, Johnson524, CC0
- Whitley Furniture Galleries main building, Zebulon NC, Johnson524, CC0
- East Wendell Boulevard, Nicholas Oren Rawlings, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rural public high school, Wakelon, Wake County, NC (6797194835), Government & Heritage Library, State Library of NC from Raleigh, NC, United States, Public domain
- Barbee House, Matheny.michelle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wakelon School, Matheny.michelle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Olde Raleigh Distillery 2025, Johnson524, CC0
- EWA K-4 Academy, Johnson524, CC0
- Garden beds at East Wake Academy, Johnson524, CC0
- Bennett Bunn Plantation, Matheny.michelle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bowl of Pigs in a Blanket, Johnson524, CC0
- ISS042-E-185483 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS009-E-13547 - View of North Carolina, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS027-E-17953 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS052-E-35327 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Karl Gummies side view, Johnson524, CC0
- Karl Gummies top view, Johnson524, CC0
- ISS009-E-13548 - View of North Carolina, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Olde Raleigh Distillery, Johnson524, CC0
- 2025 U.S. penny production halt guidelines, Johnson524, CC0
- MacLellan Bagpipes, Johnson524, CC0
- Chill guy wood carving, Johnson524, CC0
- EWA Senior Academy, Johnson524, CC0
- EWA Middle Academy, Johnson524, CC0
- East Wake Academy, Johnson524, CC0
- Elaine O'Neal signature, Elaine O'Neal, Public domain
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